The head of the women’s professional tennis tour announced Wednesday that all tournaments would be suspended in China because of concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former high-ranking government official in that country of sexual assault.
Peng posted her allegations on social media last month.
“Unfortunately, the leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any credible way,” Women’s Tennis Assn. Chairman and Chief Executive Steve Simon wrote in a statement distributed by the tour. “While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe, and not subject to censorship, coercion, and intimidation.”
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Simon repeated his call for a “full and transparent investigation — without censorship” into Peng’s accusations.